Basketball

Derry Area’s Aiden Bushey drives past Blackhawk’s Carmen Campagna during their WPIAL Class 4A first round playoff game Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at North Allegheny High School.

High school roundup for Feb. 20, 2019: Deshields leads Uniontown past Beaver

February 20, 2019

Billy Deshields had the hot hand Wednesday night and carried Uniontown to a 72-53 victory over Beaver in the first round of the WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball playoffs at Peters Township.

Knoch displays versatility, rolls past South Park in 1st round

Knoch has displayed an ability and willingness to get out and run the floor a little more than it has in the past, and that continued in a big way in the playoffs Wednesday night.

Derry Area’s Aiden Bushey scores over Blackhawk’s Ryan McClymonds during their WPIAL Class 4A first round playoff game Wednesday, Feb. 20, 2019, at North Allegheny High School.

Derry denied elusive playoff win thanks to Blackhawk’s late surge

Neither Derry nor Blackhawk had school Wednesday because of the early morning snow storm.

Highlands’ Johnny Crise had 29 points and 16 rebounds in the Golden Rams’ victory Wednesday.

Highlands holds off Belle Vernon in Class 4A 1st-round victory

Highlands saw its playoff life flashing before its eyes against an unafraid underdog Belle Vernon.

Mars boys, Peters Township girls stay atop Trib 10 basketball power rankings

Every Wednesday during the 2018-19 WPIAL basketball season, the TribLive High School Sports Network releases Power Rankings during the WPIAL Roundball Report at 6:30 p.m.

A-K Valley basketball playoff capsules: Games of Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019

Boys

Franklin Regional’s Thomas Merante (21) pulls down a rebound against Shaler Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019 at Franklin Regional.

Westmoreland basketball playoff capsules: Games of Friday, Feb. 22, 2019

Boys

Southmoreland playoffs preview

No. 6 Southmoreland (18-5) vs. No. 3 Blackhawk (18-4)

New Castle hosting marquee boys basketball playoff doubleheader Thursday night

It will be a Section 1-3A convention of sorts Thursday for a WPIAL Class 3A boys basketball doubleheader to kick off quarterfinals weekend.

Greensburg Central Catholic’s Ben Lacarte looks for an opening as Cornell’s Drew Lopez puts on defensive pressure Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019 at Peters Township High School during the WPIAL Class A quarterfinals.

DiVito nets 32 points as No. 2 Cornell takes down Greensburg Central Catholic

Greensburg Central Catholic had no illusions about Cornell and its standout junior guard, Kaden DiVito.

Thomas Jefferson’s Alyssa DeAngelo and Lydia Shaw fight for a rebound with Plum’s Kai Johnson during WPIAL playoff action Monday, Feb. 19, 2019 at North Allegheny High School.

Thomas Jefferson girls send Plum packing in WPIAL 1st round

February 19, 2019

The Thomas Jefferson girls basketball team won seven of eight games, including five in a row, to close out the regular season.

Mars girls persevere in 1st-round win over Woodland Hills

The postseason has a way of exposing both the good and bad in teams, and Tuesday night was no exception for Mars girls basketball.

Peters Township boys use strong 2nd half to take down Penn-Trafford in 1st round

As 8 vs. 9 games go in basketball tournaments, teams are often evenly matched and produce tight games. Outcomes sometimes are as good as coin flips.

Franklin Regional uses big run to secure playoff win over South Fayette

Franklin Regional used a strong third quarter, which included a 16-0 run that carried into the fourth quarter, and pulled away for a 46-35 victory Tuesday against South Fayette in the first round of the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs at Keystone Oaks.

Short-handed Leechburg girls no match for perennial power Vincentian

Unaccustomed to entering the playoffs with a sub-.500 record, 11-time WPIAL champion Vincentian showed why it shouldn’t be forgotten at playoff time.

Ligonier Valley’s Marrek Paola (44) celebrates with teammates after defeating West Shamokin, 66-42, to win the Heritage Conference championship Friday, Feb. 8, 2019, at IUP.

District 6 basketball playoffs postponed; Ligonier Valley boys to play Saturday

Ligonier Valley’s District 6 playoff schedule in boys basketball will begin a day later as part of a decision to delay most boys and girls games because of a winter storm warning Wednesday.